Tree-protector



(No Modi.)

J. D. SMITH.

` TREE PROTECTOR.

No. 557,905. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

ANDREW B GRAHAnFNom LrmuAwASHlMmN C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DAVSON SMITH, OF BONHAM, TEXAS.

TREE-PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,905, dated April 7, 1896.

Application tiled Tune 13, 1895.

To all whom, t 77mg/ concern.-

Beit known that l, JOHN DAwsoN SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bonham, in the county of Fannin and State of Texas,have invented new and useful Improvements in Tree-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wire fenders or protectors for trees, my purpose being to provide a simple and inexpensive guard capable of being readily applied to trees of any size and having such construction that it shall be held by its own elasticity at such a distance from the trunk that rabbits or otherrodents shall not be able to gnaw the bark, and the fender shall not chafe or wear the tree by continued use.

The invention consists to these ends in the novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and then particularly pointed out in the claim.

To enable others to fully understand my invention, I will describe the same, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view of a tree-protector constructed in accordance with my invention, the fabric being spread out to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the invention attached to the trunk of a tree. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of Fig. 2, showing the same device contracted in diameter to adapt it to a small trunk.

The tree-protector consists of a series of vertical double strands l of wire, which are carried from the lower edge or selvage-wire 2 to the upper end, where the wires are bent at nearly right angles to form clasps 3, the second strand of each wire being carried downward in substantial parallelism to the iirst strand, the ends of both strands being secured to the selvage-wire 2.

At suitable intervals between the bottom and top are arranged elastic bracing-wires 4, each of which may consist of a plurality of strands of small wire twisted together and around the vertical strands l. From the upper bracing-wire 4 the said stands l diverge slightly toward the clasps 3, so that the latter are of somewhat greater length than the spaces between the parallel portions of the Serial No. 552,720l (No model.)

strands l. Above the upper bracing-wire also each double strand is bent inward at a suitable angle, so that when the fabric is brought into circular form the clasps 3 will overlap each other on a circle of less diameter than that formed by the lower portion of the protector.

The brace-wires 4 are provided at one end with hooks 5, which project somewhat beyond the last strand l, so that said hooks may engage the corresponding strand of the opposite edge of the protector, when the latter is placed about a tree-trunk, or should the tree be of less than ordinary diameter the ends of the protector may be lapped one upon the other, and the hooks 5 may engage any one of the vertical strands. When properly adjusted, the clasps 3 will lie against the trunk and hug the same with sufficient force to prevent the displacement of the lower edge of the protector, which rests upon the ground, while the inward bend of the strands above the upper brace-wire 4 will cause the main portion of the protector to stand at a proper distance from the trunk to prevent animals from reaching the same through the meshes. These may be of any suitable ineness and the manner of intermeshing may be varied, provided the inwardly-bent upper portions having clasps are substantially preserved.

By diverging the two upright portions of each integral wire l, so' that the clasps 3 will be of a length greater than the distance between the parallel portions of the wires, I provide a series of supports, which will rest against the trunk of a large or of a small tree with perfect security. Moreover, when in use, as shown in Fig. 2, the divergingportions of the wire will overlap to a greater or less extent, according to the size of the treetrunk, and each will thus lend its support to the adjacent ones, and as every alternate clasp 3 must be outside those between which it is arranged the clasps 3 will onlyhave contact at intervals with the tree and will therefore be prevented from wearing a ring through the bark. Upon streets where these protectors are exposed to frequent contact, such a channel can quickly be formed, especially in the softer and more tender bark of young trees, and if cut deep enough the tree will die. I make the clasps 3 straight IOO and provide for sufficient lap, so that only every alternate clasp shall be against the trunk.

Vhat I claim is- A cylindrical tree-protector, consisting of a wire fabric formed of wire strands which extend upward from a selvagge-wire, their up` per portions being diverged and inclined inward and upward with the diverging ends connected to form clasps which are constructed to surround and clasp the treetrunk, each strand being connected to a lower selvagefwire and with bracing-wires having hooks at their ends for engaging the fabric at the opposite end portions of the bracing- Wires, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setA my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN DAVSON SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

E. L., AGNEw, W. C.Y DUNCAN. 

